It’s a question that has been contemplated for several years, and there is still no definitive answer.

The two will meet for the third time Sunday in London. The Falcons won the first two meetings in 2011 and 2012 at Ford Field.

Each has been subjected to their share of triumphs and tribulations. What about the future?

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“Matt Ryan has had more success so far, but I think Matthew Stafford is the better athlete and has a higher ceiling,” said former NFL quarterback Jim Miller, a graduate of Waterford Kettering High School, who started at Michigan State and is currently a host for The NFL Network on Sirius/XM Radio. “Stafford can pop his feet into position very quickly to snap off throws. He has a stronger arm and moves better in the pocket. I saw Matt Ryan play a couple weeks ago and he pretty much must complete the entire throwing mechanics to deliver the ball - like most quarterbacks.

“They both have what it takes from the neck up (minds) to be outstanding NFL quarterbacks.”

Ryan was the third overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft out of Boston College, Stafford first overall a year later from Georgia.

Both were tossed into the deep end to sink or swim with teams in disarray at the time they arrived, although in fairness to Stafford, the situation he inherited was considerably worse.

The Falcons had been 4-12 the year before Ryan was drafted, the Lions the only NFL team in history to go 0-16 in ‘08.

Ryan did more than keep his head above water initially – he brought the Falcons back immediately as a rookie. In fact, he was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in ‘08 and led his team to the playoffs while taking every snap. Right from his first game, a rout of the eventually winless Lions in Atlanta, he starred.

Stafford was either hurt and floundered in ‘09 and ‘10, but did lead the Lions to the playoffs with one of the best seasons ever statistically by an NFL QB in ‘11.

Ryan entered the NFL with more college experience. He played all four years at Boston College, Stafford three at Georgia before declaring for the NFL Draft.

Also, Ryan began to make significant progress his junior year when Green Bay offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski was named BC’s head coach.

“Matthew Stafford played in a pro-style offense at Georgia under Mark Richt, but it wasn’t to the level Matt Ryan experienced at Boston College under Jeff Jagodzinski,” Miller said. “Ryan ran a true West Coast Offense and it made him very prepared to play immediately in the NFL.”

Ryan and Stafford have recently fallen into the same crevasse in which it’s difficult to judge exactly where they lie.

They have mostly put up terrific numbers, and received generous contract extensions, but the bigger team goals have eluded them. Ryan has won in the playoffs, but wasn’t able to lead his team over the top when it was expected. Stafford has played in one playoff game, and his team collapsed down the stretch last season after he suddenly became a turnover machine.

There have been signs of genuine greatness. There have been other indications which suggest Stafford and Ryan are overrated despite repeated efforts by the Lions and Falcons to surround them with elite-level weapons.

The jury very much remains out on both heading into Sunday.

Ryan has the better resume so far. His career record is 63-39 compared to 29-39 for Stafford. His completion percentage (63.7 compared to 59.8) and touchdown pass-to-interception ratio (166-84 compared to 118-79) are better than Stafford’s, too. Ryan has also played in two Pro Bowls. Stafford has yet to be selected.

But Ryan has played on better teams. The Falcons had very good defensive units his first few years in the league. Ryan has had Roddy White and Julio Jones and – until he retired after last season – perhaps the greatest tight end of all time, Tony Gonzalez. Ryan’s primary running back through 2012, Michael Turner, rushed for more than 1,300 yards three times, made two Pro Bowl appearances and was a first-team All-Pro. Stafford has had Calvin Johnson, but not much else surrounding him until the last two years with the additions of Reggie Bush and Golden Tate.

The tables have turned. The Lions now have a solid defense and the Falcons do not.

Stafford and the Lions are trending up. They will carry a 5-2 record into Sunday’s game. Ryan and the Falcons are trending down. They will carry a 2-5 mark in Sunday’s game.

Also, Stafford, at 26, is three years younger than Ryan.

“I don’t see Matthew Stafford as a young quarterback anymore,” Miller said. “He is going through a period of adjustment, though. (Head coach) Jim Caldwell, (offensive coordinator ) Joe Lombardi and (quarterbacks coach) Jim Bob Cooter were brought in to give him that last bit of polish. But he hasn’t had Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush all the time this season. I think you will see him make progress this season, especially if he has everybody at hand.”

The quarterback position in the NFL is evolving. Yet, the more it changes, the more it stays the same. The spread option is the offense of choice at the lower levels of football, and the NFL has brought a lot of mobility into the league at QB. Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick seemed to be the wave of the future, although their star has faded a bit lately. Johnny Manziel has thrown one pass for Cleveland.

Stafford and Ryan work out of the pocket. They have big arms. They fit more the traditional mold of NFL quarterbacks.

There are times when they seem like The Answer. Other times they appear as The Problem.

Sometimes their paths cross like Sunday in London.

Should be interesting to see exactly where they stand in direct comparison.

About the Author

Pat Caputo has written as a beat writer and sports columnist for The Oakland Press since 1984 and blogs at http://patcaputo.blogspot.com/. Reach the author at pat.caputo@oakpress.com
or follow Pat on Twitter: @PatCaputo98.